September 2020 - Governments around the world have been at the forefront in the fight against global crises, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, the disruptive nature of this crisis has exposed a deeper level of vulnerability in our communities, by creating unprecedented socio-economic and cultural impact. During the crisis, public officials have been faced with the unparalleled urgency to formulate new ways of thinking, adapt to new realities and prepare for the unknown future.
A crisis may be a reoccurring emergency situation common to a specific region (for example, hurricanes or bushfires), or a novel and unprecedented event, for instance, the COVID-19 global pandemic. However, at the core of crisis leadership is the ability to be able to rapidly and innovatively solve problems in real time, and under immense pressure. This is also true for a new crisis which requires the ability to be able to manage competing priorities that one may not have had to previously cope with.
Due to this urgent need to support Government officials, UNITAR’s Division for People and Social Inclusion has created a new course, entitled: ‘Crisis Management for Public Officials: Basic Skills’. The purpose of the e-learning course is to develop the basic competences required to overcome the challenges of managing a crisis, enhance the understanding of the consequences of such, as well as create a platform for public sector officials to learn from crisis management responses, in order to effectively prepare for future calamities. At the end of the course, we envisage that the participants will be able to: a) recognize some of the current challenges faced by public officials due to COVID-19, b) identify contextual challenges due to a crisis and ensure business ‘as usual’ policies in the public sector, c) discuss different processes involved in the management process, including soft skills related to communication strategies and leadership, and d) respond to governing challenges in post-crisis situations, as well as prepare for future disasters.
UNITAR continues to provide innovative learning solutions to individuals, organizations and institutions to enhance global decision-making and support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Moreover, at the core of achieving the SDGs is the need to build the resilience of communities, in order to be able to avert a crisis or limit the potential negative impact of such. The SDG Target 1.5 focuses on building the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations. Similarly, SDG Target 3.d prioritizes early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. In addition, opportunities for global partnership and cooperation to build resilience are presented in SDG 17, as well as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Public officials should therefore take ownership of this crisis management course and implement the practical strategies that are vital in ‘building back better’. When public officials are equipped with the skills to effectively tackle the negative impact of a crisis and learn from the experience, they will be better positioned to assist in building resilient communities in their respective countries, and collectively ensure that development is globally sustainable for all.
For more information pertaining to the course, please view our site: https://www.unitar.org/event/full-catalog/crisis-management-public-officials